A nurse is preparing to administer hydralazine to a client with severe pre-eclampsia who has a blood pressure of 170/110 mmHg.

What is the expected outcome of this medication?

To prevent seizures

To lower blood pressure

To increase urine output

To improve placental perfusion

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

To lower blood pressure. Hydralazine is an antihypertensive drug that is used to treat severe hypertension in pre-eclampsia. It works by relaxing the blood vessels and reducing the resistance to blood flow.

This helps to lower the blood pressure and prevent complications such as stroke, kidney damage, or placental abruption.

Choice A is wrong because hydralazine does not prevent seizures.

Seizures are a symptom of eclampsia, a more severe form of pre-eclampsia. To prevent seizures, magnesium sulfate is usually given intravenously.

Choice C is wrong because hydralazine does not increase urine output. In fact, it may cause fluid retention and edema as a side effect. Diuretics are drugs that increase urine output, but they are not recommended for pre-eclampsia because they may worsen the condition by reducing blood volume and placental perfusion.

Choice D is wrong because hydralazine does not improve placental perfusion.

Placental perfusion is the blood flow to the placenta, which provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.

Placental perfusion may be impaired in pre-eclampsia due to abnormal development of the placental blood vessels. Hydralazine does not affect the placental blood vessels directly, but it may improve placental perfusion indirectly by lowering the maternal blood pressure and reducing the risk of abruption.

However, this is not the primary or expected outcome of hydralazine therapy.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The client should not resume normal activities as soon as she gets home because she is still at risk for complications from preeclampsia.She should rest as directed by her healthcare provider and avoid strenuous activities that may increase her blood pressure.

Choice A is wrong because monitoring blood pressure at home is a recommended practice for clients who had preeclampsia.It can help detect any signs of worsening hypertension or organ damage.

Choice B is wrong because reporting any headache, vision changes, or abdominal pain to the doctor is a crucial step to prevent serious complications from preeclampsia.These symptoms may indicate damage to the brain, eyes, or liver and require immediate medical attention.

Choice D is wrong because continuing to take prenatal vitamins and iron supplements is beneficial for the client’s recovery and health.Prenatal vitamins can provide essential nutrients that may be lacking in the diet, and iron supplements can prevent or treat anemia that may result from blood loss during delivery.

A. Hydralazine B. Nifedipine C. Magnesium sulfate D. Diazepam

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Magnesium sulfate.Magnesium sulfate is thedrug of choiceto prevent and treat seizures in people with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia.It is an anticonvulsant medication that reduces the risk of eclampsia by 50%.

Choice A is wrong because hydralazine is a blood pressure medication that can lower blood pressure in people with preeclampsia or eclampsia, but it does not prevent seizures.

Choice B is wrong because nifedipine is another blood pressure medication that can lower blood pressure in people with preeclampsia or eclampsia, but it does not prevent seizures.

Choice D is wrong because diazepam is an anticonvulsant medication that was previously used to treat eclamptic seizures, but it has been replaced by magnesium sulfate as the preferred drug due to its better safety and efficacy.Diazepam can also cause sedation and respiratory depression in the mother and the fetus.

Normal ranges for blood pressure are below 140/90 mm Hg, for proteinuria are below 300 mg/24 hours, for platelet count are 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter, for liver enzymes are 7 to 56 units per liter for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 10 to 40 units per liter for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and for magnesium levels are 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L.

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A nurse is preparing to administer hydralazine to a client with severe pre-eclampsia who has a blood pressure of 170/110 mmHg. What is the expected outcome of this medication?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who had pre-eclampsia and delivered a healthy baby. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A client who is 36 weeks pregnant is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of eclampsia. She has a history of chronic hypertension and gestational diabetes. The nurse anticipates that the client will receive which of the following medications to prevent seizures?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client with severe pre-eclampsia who reports a severe headache and blurred vision. The nurse notes that the client has hyperreflexia with clonus. What is the most likely explanation for these findings?

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client with severe pre-eclampsia who is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which finding would indicate a therapeutic level of magnesium sulfate?

A nurse is caring for a client who has severe preeclampsia and is receiving magnesium sulfate infusion. Which of the following assessments is most important for the nurse to monitor?

A nurse is caring for a client with severe pre-eclampsia who is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which of the following findings would indicate magnesium toxicity and require immediate intervention?

A nurse is caring for a client with mild pre-eclampsia who has a blood pressure of 150/95 mmHg, proteinuria of 400 mg/24 hours, and edema of the face and hands. Which intervention is the priority for this client?